This site uses cookies to deliver our services and to show you relevant ads and job listings.
By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Service.
Your use of Stack Overflow’s Products and Services, including the Stack Overflow Network, is subject to these policies and terms.

Join us in building a kind, collaborative learning community via our updated
Code of Conduct.

I'm comfortable with the basics of building a 2d sprite based game in XNA, where all my objects are simply .png images that I move around.

What things do I need to learn next to be able to develop a 2d game that utilizes an art style similar to Super Laser Racer for example.

Other examples of this style would include Frozen Synapse, Geometry Wars, etc.

I would describe this style "2D abstract glowing geometry" or something like that.

I can see that a lot of the effects in these types of games are achieved via particle systems and also that maybe some things are still just sprites that were maybe drawn in a graphics editor to look all "glowing" etc.

But then the rest is possibly done by making draw calls to DirectX and implementing custom shaders, etc?

Is that right? I'm not really sure of what to learn next to be able to go in this direction or what questions to ask.

I just want to throw in that your loss for a description of "2D abstract glowing geometry" is Google-able as "vector display graphics" as seen in Asteroids, Tempest, etc. (don't let MAME fool you; the original, old-school vector display hardware created a natural pin-sharp glowing effect that games like Geometry Wars are simply simulating) (adding this as a comment, rather than an answer, as per Peter Parker's recommendation)
– christopherdrumNov 29 '17 at 1:27